The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1887-08-11
replied or not 1 do not re-

Whether / replied or not do not re-
member, but he continued:
'I'n mighty sorry we got We into II, but
we lowed we'd get way all right Ef
they swing ye jes' keep up and show yer
sand. They say ye're a hoss thief; act 3
IL We was one. A Teller can't die but
once;" and with this philosophical refec-
ton he rolled himself in his blanket, and
he and his companion were soon fast
asleep.
tossed and rolled IN the corner I'M
able to sleep, and, might almost say,
unable to keep awake. I felt dazed and
stupid.
1t must have been O'Clock when was
startled by the door opening and one Of
the guards stepping in. He came over to
my corner and told me to come out. I
did so, and as I stepped through the door
saw man on horseback and another
horse saddled and bridled.
There's your hoss," said the man as
he leaned down from the saddle, and /
recognized his voice as that of Hawkins.
ssGet on, an I'll show you out o. this"
AT first could hardly comprehend him.
The prospect of deliverance-and that by
the Judge who sentenced me-fairly over
powered me. He warned me to be quick,
and I scrambled on my pony and rode
away by Hawkins side, none of the
guards offering any resistance.
We rode for some distance IN silence
Then Hawkins said:
''There's loose board in the floor, an
they'll think We got out there. can't go
with you very far, but reckon ye can get
away. Keep north o. Yankton, an don't
show yerself to anybody eff we can help it.
Skip down into Iowa, an then 60 home
an stay there"
''I'll do that, " replied, "if get away. {"
''That's right-this is no country fer
boys. Ye did me little favor pickin' up
them chips on the boat that time an Pm
willin' to do as much fer ye."
"Why, Hawkins, can't tell you how
thankful l am-but that was no favor I
did on the boat-nothing at all, and this
saving my ife-look at the difference"
"Oh, that's all right-no difference Mt
allies what we both had chance to do,
an neither Of US couldn't do no more
Don't say no more bout that. knew ye
didn't steal them bosses an didn't want
to see ye hang fer it,
"But how did you know I didn't have
something to do with it after all?'
why, cuss it, ye see stole the HOSES
myselfT'
"You?"
"Yes, me an some other fellers. We
cached them up on Chouteau creek an
these Nebraska fellers tried to run 'eIn off,
I reckon the moral health o. the commu-
nifty demands that they swing"
"But was that crowd horse-that is
were they all your friendsY'
"Oh, no, some of 'em were farmers
Yc see Pm cheernan of the Anti
Horse Thief society, and oil my gang are
prominent members. We have to have in
some O. the farmers an other people to
lend respectability to the society, ye know,
but I'm elected cheerman every time, an
we generally put the outsiders in as vice
presidents or something. find my posi-
ton mighty handy in my profession.
Well, can't 60 any further with ye;
hurry long an l reckon you'll be ali
right, though the vice presidents will be
lookin' fer ye in the mornin' an we may
hev to hunt easy like ourselves. Go back
home an stay thcrer'
He turned and rode back In the gray
dawn of morning. went on as fast as
possible and got safely out of the country.
/ went home and appreciated 1t, and when
] struck the territory again five years
after T can truly say that 1t was with re-
greet that l learned that Buck Hawkins
had been treacherously shot and killed by
a member of his own gang, who was also
treasurer of the Anti-Horse Thief associa-
tion.-Dakota Bell.